Vice-Speaker:

Presence of Foreign Forces Not Acceptable in Iraq

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iraqi Parliament Vice-Speaker Humam Hamoudi voiced his country's strong opposition to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, and said that they only aggravate problems in the war-stricken country.

News ID: 68735

Date: 18 February 2018 - 18:26

"Only the Iraqi parliament is authorized to decide on any foreign military presence in our country," Hamoudi said in a joint press conference with Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati in Baghdad on Saturday night.

He reiterated that the presence of foreign forces in the Iraqi territory is not acceptable, and said, "This issue has been raised at the parliament and will be decided upon."

Hamoudi also stressed that problems in the region should be resolved by the residents and that the presence of foreign forces worsens the situation.

Velayati, for his part, hailed the strategic Iran-Iraq relations, noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no effort to develop bilateral ties.

In relevant remarks on Saturday, Head of the National Wisdom Movement of Iraq Ammar al-Hakim lauded Iran's support for his country in the fight against the ISIL terrorist group.

"Iran stood alongside Iraq firmly during the fight against ISIL," Hakim said during a meeting with Iranian Supreme Leader's top aide for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati in Baghdad.

He underlined that the sectarianism is fading away in Iraq in favor of an Iraqi national identity.

Hakim, meantime, hoped for a better future for Iraq with the help of Iran.

In relevant remarks in late May, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari underlined that the Baghdad government will not pay any attention to US President Donald Trump's policies adopted against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"Baghdad will not get involved in the anti-Tehran policies adopted by Washington," al-Jafari told reporters.

The Iraqi foreign minister made the remarks when asked about Trump’s idea to form a new anti-Iran front and whether Iraq will ever participate in it.

Al-Jafari reiterated that Iraq will not enter any country’s policies against another one.

The Iraqi foreign minister underlined that many commonalities, including geography, history, social affairs and common interests have linked Iraq and Iran.